Marked by Another World

Chapter 1: The Summoning

The afternoon sun poured through the classroom windows, casting long golden streaks across the polished floor. The soft hum of the ceiling fan mixed with the occasional scratching of pens and low chatter of students pretending to study while waiting for the final bell.

At the very back of the room, beside the window, sat Ashton.

A sixteen-year-old with dark, slightly messy hair that often fell over his sharp eyes, he was the kind of person people noticed but rarely approached. He wasn’t unpopular, nor was he exactly invisible. He simply existed in his own quiet world, separate from everyone else.

The mysterious type.

He barely spoke unless necessary. Never joined group conversations. Never laughed loudly at jokes. Never volunteered answers even when teachers knew he had them.

To his classmates, Ashton was an enigma.

To Ashton, they were background noise.

With one hand lazily supporting his chin, he flipped through the pages of a book resting on his desk, his eyes scanning the colorful panels with calm focus. It was another fantasy story—one filled with overpowered protagonists, ancient magic, and world-shattering adventures.

The kind of fiction he often escaped into.

The irony wasn’t lost on him when he suddenly felt it.

A strange vibration.

At first, it was subtle. Barely enough to notice.

Then—

RUMBLE.

The entire classroom shook violently.

Desks rattled.

Books fell.

The fluorescent lights overhead flickered wildly.

“What the heck?!”

“Is it an earthquake?!”

Students screamed as panic erupted instantly. Chairs screeched against the floor as everyone scrambled to their feet.

The ground trembled harder.

Ashton slowly looked up from his book, his expression unchanged, though his sharp eyes narrowed slightly.

This wasn’t normal.

The shaking felt... unnatural.

Then he saw it.

A glowing symbol began spreading across the

classroom floor.

Lines of brilliant blue light carved themselves into existence, forming an enormous intricate circle covered in symbols no one could understand.

It stretched beyond their classroom.

Beyond the hallways.

Past the walls.

The entire school campus was engulfed in it.

“What is that?!”

“No way…”

“Is this some kind of prank?!”

The panic only worsened.

Some students cried.

Others stared in stunned fascination.

A few, strangely enough, looked excited.

“Wait… this looks exactly like those summoning circles in anime!”

“No freaking way—are we getting isekai’d?!”

“Bro, if this is real, I call being a sword master!”

Even amidst the chaos, Ashton remained seated.

His fingers slowly closed his book.

His heartbeat remained steady.

Though deep inside, a strange unease settled in his

chest.

The symbols glowed brighter.

The air grew heavy.

Almost suffocating.

Then a voice echoed—not through the room, but

directly into their minds.

“Talented souls of this realm… your gifts are required.”

The blue light erupted.

A blinding flash swallowed everything.

And then—

Silence.

When Ashton opened his eyes, the familiar classroom was gone.

In its place stood a massive circular chamber of white stone.

Towering pillars lined the walls, each engraved with glowing runes. Floating crystals illuminated the room with soft silver light, and at the center beneath their feet was another magic circle—far more complex than

the one at school.

The entire group of students had been transported there.

Gasps and cries filled the chamber.

“W-Where are we?!”

“This is insane!”

“Oh my god…”

Some students panicked immediately.

Others stared around in awe.

A few looked almost thrilled, their faces lighting up with excitement.

“Dude... this is real magic.”

“No way. No actual way.”

Ashton stood slowly, slipping his book into his bag as his eyes surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings.